Bill Camfield

Vocation

Traits

A popular television personality in Fort Worth, Texas, in the 1950s and 1960s, Camfield is best known as Icky Twerp, host of the kids’ show Slam Bang Theatre, and Gorgon, host of the horror film series Nightmare. In 1957, an independent television station in Fort Worth, KFJZ, purchased the SHOCK horror film package from Screen Gems and began airing these films on Saturday nights. Camfield portrayed the host of the show, Gorgon, an eerie, black-caped character with a sinister laugh. An immediate hit, the show received national attention in magazines such as Life, and appeared off and on until 1976, particularly for Halloween specials. Camfield’s other popular character was Icky Twerp (shortened from "Ichamore Twerpwhistle"), host of “Slam-Bang Theatre,” an afternoon kids’ show which presented cartoons and Three Stooges comedies. Icky Twerp was a goofy character in horn-rimmed glasses, striped suit, tousled hair, and an undersized cowboy hat who performed in slapstick skits. In 1989, the Governor of Texas and the State Legislature passed a proclamation declaring "Icky Twerp Day." In 1991, Camfield died of brain cancer at his Fort Worth home. His family established a scholarship for humor and satire in his name at Texas Christian University. Link to Wikipedia biography